Swivel-connector



P. H. SHAFFER.

SWIVEL CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1920.

1 ,386, 1 35, Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

:iE l E3 Jnwmtoz PATRicK H. SHAFFE-R. v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK H. SHAFFER, 0F RICHWOOID, WEST VIRGINIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

SWIVEL-CONNECTOR.

Patented Aug. 2,1921.

Original application filed April 14, 1920, Serial No. 373,872. Divided and. this application filed November e 13, 1920. Serial No. 423,971.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, PATRICK H. SHAFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richwood, in the county of Nicholas and State of est Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SwiveLConnectors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to connectors, and particularly to 'a swivel connector.

An object of the invention is to provide a swivel connector capable of readily responding to any movement of the members connected thereto.

Another object is to provide a swivel of this character capable of longitudinal movement and including spring means for cushioning said members in their longitudinal movement and also permittingthe members to rotate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a swivel connector of this character wherein means are provided to protect the springs from being damaged after the parts of the connector reach a certain point in their longitudinal movement.

This is a divisional application from the co-pending application on logging hooks filed April 14, 1920, Serial No. 373,872.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the swivel connector, the connecting loop of the casing being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the swivel connector;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is an end view of the shank, showing the collar and connecting loop thereof;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the cushioning spring.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a casing which is circular in formation and is not only used to protect the. parts of the connector, but also serves as a portion of the connector. The casing 5 is closed at its end 6 and provided with an opening 7, the diameter of the lower and intermediate portions of the chamber 8 formed 5 being the same. The upper end portion of the casing 5 has its inner wall reduced, as at-9, to provide an annular shoulder 10, the purpose of which will be hereafter described. Formed integral with the casing 5 and extending from side to side thereof is a loop member 11, the inner surface of the loop being flush with the reduced portion 9 of the casing. The loop 11 is intended to receive one end of the member to be con nected.

A shank 121s provided for sliding movement in the opening 7 of the casing 5. This shank is slightly longer than the length of the casing5 and is. provided on its-end 13 with a collar 14, said collar including a connecting loop 15 adapted to receive the other end of the member to be connected. The collar 14 coincides with the end 6 of the casing and is adapted to engage the bottom surface of said end to limit movement of the shank 12 inwardly of the casing. The end 16 of the shank 12 is reduced to provide an annular shoulder 17, the reduced portion in the casing being threaded.

Surrounding the shank 12 and disposed within the chamber 8 of the casing is an expansion spring 18, one end of said spring engaging the end 6 of the casing, while the opposite end of the spring is engaged with a plate 19 threaded on the end 16 of the shank 12. The shoulder 17 permits the plate 19'to be firmly screwed into engagement with the shank to prevent accidental disengagement of the spring from the casing. The plate 19 is intended to engage the shoulder 10 of the casing 5 to not only limit movement of the shank through the casing in one direction, but to prevent the plate from crushing or damaging the spring. The shoulder 10 is intended to be positioned at a point where the spring reaches the limit of its retracting movement so that in thls way the entire resilient force of the spring is utilized without causing damage.

In the use of the device, should the members connected to the loops 15 and 11 be put under strain to cause expansion, the shank 12, as well as the casing 5, will. be moved away from each other, that is the plate 19 will be moved toward the shoulder 10 of the casing, thereby cushioning the connecting members while under strain without causing said members to slack or permitting are not connected to any part of the device, 7

but at the same time it is prevented from disengagement by means of the end 6 and.

the plate 19. h i

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that this invention provides a novel form of swivel connector wherein a portion of the connector not only serves to protect the vital parts of the device, but also as sists in the operation of the swivel. Furthermore, the novel formation of the casing and the use of the plate 19 protects the spring atall times without interfering with its resilient power. At the same time, the collar 14 prevents the spring from expanding to such an extent as to interfere with the member carried by the loop 11. It is, of course, obvious that I do not wish to limit myself to the particular manner vof connectingthe plate 19 to the shankor; to

y the manner of holding the shank within the casing.

I elaim:-- v

A swivel connector of the character described comprising a casing open at one end, an openingform'ed in the opposite end of the casing, an annular shoulder formed within thereof, one end of said shank having a collar, a connecting loop, said collar being adapted to engage the lower surface of said end of the casing, the opposite end of the shank being reduced, a plate carried by said reduced end, said plate being movable within the open end of the casing, and a spring surrounding the shankzwithin the casing, one end of said spring engaging the end of the'casing, the opposite end of the spring engaging said plate, said plate limiting longitudinal movement of the casing and shank away from each other, the collar of the shank limiting movement of the casing and shank toward each other.

In testimony whereof hereunto affix my signature.

PATRICK H; SHAFFER 

